Pages

▼

22 February 2013

The End of the Book ... Sigh ...

This week we finished our novel study on The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau ... well almost ... we still have a few things to tie up early next week.  We loved the book so much, we're going to read the sequel next:  The People of Sparks.  There are 4 books in the series, and I've purchased them all for the class.

To celebrate, we watched the movie today.  Since there are so many differences between the book and the movie, I knew we had to do a compare and contrast activity.

I gave the students Venn diagrams to jot down their ideas while they were watching the movie this afternoon.  When we finished the movie, the students got into groups to discuss the information they had written down.  They did a GREAT job of noting all the similarities and differences.  


I gave each group cardstock strips of paper to write down their findings so each group could create a large, interactive Venn diagram (we used hula hoops to make the Venn diagrams).  LOVED the conversations that were going on.  :)  This was one happy teacher.  When they were finished they had to present their Venn Diagrams to the class.  Just look at all this thinking!!!  (Oh ... I forgot to mention my FAVOURITE part of the day ... when the students ALL decided that the book was so much better than the movie!!!!).




One of the activities I'm super excited to finish up next week is our 3D setting mural / bulletin board for the novel - we've been working hard on it, and we're almost done.  I can't wait to share it with you when we finish, but here's a sneak peek at what we've done so far ...
T.G.I.F!!!


Jen













at

22 comments:

  1. ElizabethFebruary 22, 2013 at 6:51 PM

    I just love to hear when students love the book more than the movie :) The large Venn Diagram is a great idea!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Runde's RoomFebruary 22, 2013 at 8:19 PM

      Thanks, Elizabeth! I just KNEW they'd prefer the book - and it turned into a great conversation about how "the movie in your head" is so much better than the movie someone else makes for you.

      Delete
  2. BarbaraFebruary 22, 2013 at 8:53 PM

    Are those hula hoops?? Such a clever way to engage those movie critics! Ditto to what Elizabeth said ... I LOVE that they liked the book better! My daughter would ALWAYS choose the book over the movie!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BarbaraFebruary 22, 2013 at 8:53 PM

      Yes, of course they're hula hoops ... you said that in parenthesis ... yay for going back to read posts again!

      Delete
    2. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:32 PM

      I have collapsible Venn diagram circles, but they weren't big enough for all that thinking. So I ran down to the gym to grab some hula hoops!

      Delete
  3. KristenFebruary 23, 2013 at 9:01 AM

    So funny, I was JUST about to email you to ask how your students liked the book. I'm off from school this week and wanted to prepare it as our next novel and I'm excited to hear your students liked it so much! Thanks for all of the information on it (I bought the packets you mentioned during the last sale). Happy weekend dear Jen!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. karen @ Smarticle ParticlesFebruary 23, 2013 at 9:07 AM

    I used to teach 5th grade, and I loved novel studies. It is such a joy to see kids read simply for the pleasure of a good story.

    karen
    LittleSecond-GradeSomebodies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:33 PM

      Thanks, Karen! There is nothing better than sharing a great book with the students!

      Delete
  5. ~Stephanie February 23, 2013 at 3:37 PM

    The bulletin board came out GREAT!!! Your class did a great job. And the discussions are the best part of the novel studies, aren't they? Love it.

    Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:34 PM

      Just wait, Steph - we're not done yet! I think I need another class or two to finish it up and have them present it!

      Delete
  6. iloveknittingFebruary 23, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Do each of your students have their own copy? My principal gave me the go-ahead to purchase a class set of novels but they are so pricey!
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:35 PM

      Hi Jen! I'm actually doing it as a read aloud - I have one copy I read from, and I also project it on my ereader under the elmo so students can follow along. I have another couple of copies that I send home with students who are / were absent to make sure they catch up.

      Delete
    2. iloveknittingFebruary 23, 2013 at 8:02 PM

      I never thought to project from an ereader! No if someone hadn't snatched my Elmo I'd be all set :(

      Delete
    3. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 8:07 PM

      Oh Jen - it'd be all out war if someone tried to get my elmo. ;)

      Delete
  7. C Van den EyndenFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:16 PM

    We are also in the middle of reading City of Ember with my grade 5's. They absolutely love the book. I have the wall prepared for the 3D mural, I am wondering how did you structure it for the kids to work on it. Did they pick what they wanted to build?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Runde's RoomFebruary 23, 2013 at 6:37 PM

      I chose three groups (drew names from my name jar) for the three sections (above ground, ember, and pipeworks). I left it up to the groups from there to organize themselves, choose jobs (for the pictures I took of them), build what they want, and decide where to put it. It's been a great team-building activity for them.

      Delete
    2. C Van den EyndenFebruary 24, 2013 at 8:48 PM

      Thank you so much going to start this week. My class also loves loves the book.

      Delete
  8. Cindy CalentiFebruary 23, 2013 at 8:03 PM

    I love the 3-D setting mural- what a great idea.

    Cindy
    Granny Goes to School

    ReplyDelete
  9. iloveknittingFebruary 24, 2013 at 8:07 AM

    Hi Jen! Could you possibly PM me? I had a question/observation about your interactive math journal as well as an idea/request. Thanks! Jen speckles10@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. DeniseFebruary 24, 2013 at 3:06 PM

    You always amaze me with your creativity!! I love both the hula hoop and the 3D model ideas! THANKS for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. JennibellFebruary 24, 2013 at 4:31 PM

    What a great activity! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete